Preperiosteal suborbicularis oculi fat lift blepharoplasty

Abstract

Aim The aim of this study was to determine the effect of preperiosteal suborbicularis oculi fat (SOOF) lift blepharoplasty in the treatment of tear-trough (nasojugal) deformity. Patients and methods A prospective interventional case study was carried out on 10 eyelids (five patients; four women and one man), age range 40-70 years (mean ± SD, 58.0 ± 11.0); all of them had tear-trough deformity as a part of midfacial aged appearance with prolapsed orbital fat. A preperiosteal SOOF lift blepharoplasty was performed under local or general anaesthesia, adding a preseptal orbicularis oculi muscle sling and lateral canthal resuspension in cases of lower lid laxity. The tear-trough deformity was observed objectively and subjectively, and reported over the following 6 months. Results All patients showed improvement in the tear-trough deformity 1 month postoperatively. None of the patients required repeat surgery at the end of the follow-up period (6 months). Early postoperative complications (1 day postoperative) included periorbital oedema, ecchymosis and conjunctival chemosis (10 eyes, 100%), subconjunctival haemorrhage (two eyes, 20%), brownish skin pigmentation (four eyes, 40%) and epiphora (four eyes, 40%). Lid retraction was observed in one eyelid (10%, 1 month postoperative) and numbness of the ipsilateral cheek in six eyelids (60%). Conclusion SOOF elevation can be used as a part of a routine lower lid blepharoplasty for the treatment of the tear-trough deformity. It may be considered a safe addition to other techniques of midfacial rejuvenation.